Many dog parents are considering a raw food diet for their dogs as an alternative to commercial pet food, as many believe it can improve your dog's health and well-being.
The Puppyum Team advocates for a mix feeding model, including the BARF diet and high-quality kibble. Our Labrador Mascots, Mabel and Arlo, have been raised on this diet since birth. Here’s the reason why! As Labrador / Golden Retriever owners, we understand that diet is a very important part of their lifestyle and weight management (Annie has a saying ‘they are walking stomachs!”).
At Puppyum we absolutely respect that while a raw food diet may not be suitable for everyone, this blog post provides information on what a raw diet for dogs looks like, how to transition, where to begin, and who to consult.
What is a Raw Food Diet or The BARF Diet for Dogs
The raw food movement for dogs began in the 1980s, led by Australian veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst. His research linked pet health to diet, leading him to create the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) diet, which mimics the natural diet of wild ancestors and includes raw meat, bones, offal and fruits and vegetables.
Another popular option is the Raw Meat-Based Diet (RMBD), or the Prey-Model, which focuses solely on animal-based ingredients like raw organs, muscles, and bones, excluding grains, fruits, and vegetables.
A proper raw diet usually consists of:
· Muscle Meat: This is your main ingredient, providing your dog with high-quality protein.
· Organs: Think liver, kidney, or heart. Organs are nutrient powerhouses, packed with essential vitamins like A, D, E, and K.
· Bones: Raw, edible bones (never cooked!) supply calcium and other minerals while keeping those pearly whites in top shape.
· Vegetables & Fruits: Some dog-friendly veggies (like sweet potatoes or leafy greens) and fruits (think berries!) can boost antioxidants, fibre, and vitamins.
· Supplements: Fish oil, kelp, or even eggshells may be added to ensure your dog gets a well-rounded diet.
The Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) method recommends using 70% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bones, 10% organs (with at least 5% being liver), 10% fruits, vegetables, or dairy (such as kefir, goat's milk, or other suitable dairy sources, but avoid cow's milk products). Balance is key! Your dog's diet should have the right ratio of meat, bone, and organs to avoid deficiencies or overloading on any one nutrient.
Raw Feeding only vs. Mix Feeding
Not everyone wants to feed their dog an exclusively raw based diet. Some dog parents will opt to mix raw meats with kibble and other ingredients, which is a personal choice and should be made in consultation with your vet. In some cases, the raw product you serve your dog may not offer a complete and balanced meal on its own, so it will be necessary to add other nutrients to the diet/daily intake (as mentioned above).
Pre-made raw products are often used, formulated by experts to meet nutritional requirements while ensuring food safety standards. If you're not interested in making your own dog food or time-poor, Petzyo offers an online solution for busy pet parents (all the hard work done!) https://petzyo.com.au/collections/dog-food
What are the Pros and Cons of a Raw Food Diet for Dogs?
When it comes to raw food diets for dogs, the commonly agreed benefits and considerations are:
· Better digestion
· Healthier coat and skin
· Reduced stool volume and odour
· Improved breathe and body odour
· Healthier teeth and gums
· Fresh and without preservatives, artificial colours or flavours
Considerations of Raw Feeding
· If raw food is incorrectly prepared, cross-contamination can occur, making it very important to pay special attention to food safety.
· Ensuring your dog eats a complete and balanced diet is the key to any diet, and in some instances, creating your version of a raw food diet can leave room for error.
· Typically, raw food is a bit more expensive than other dog foods.
· Pet food isn't legally required to undergo bacteria testing in Australia, however most reputable brands, and manufacturers will undertake everything in line with the Australian standards.
If you are considering feeding a raw food diet for your dog the food or diet should be in line with the Pet Food Industry Association Australia standards https://pfiaa.com.au/pet-food-standards/
Tips on Transitioning to a Raw Diet for Dogs
Transitioning your dog to a raw diet should be a gradual process, as your dog’s digestive system will need to adjust to the new ingredients without creating a tummy upset. Any dog diet transition follows a similar approach (with a two-week transitional period), but here are the main tips, as a guide only, from Big Dog Pet Foods.
· Break down the process over two weeks, with the percentage of new diet starting at 20% and gradually increasing by 20% each day. The old diet/food should work backwards in the same way from 80%.
· Don’t worry if your numbers are a little off – this is simply an ideal guide.
· Ensure you feed your dog the right amount of raw food in conjunction with their metabolism, size, age and activity level, as this can affect their overall nutritional requirements.
· Always ensure they have plenty of fresh water available at all times.
Don’t hesitate to work this through with your local vet, as you may encounter different challenges. Every dog is different, and this includes their taste preferences, digestive system and intake needs.
Puppyum’s Raw Food Diet Recipe
Puppyum's BARF Raw Food Diet Recipe includes raw bones, soft bones, cartilage, organ meats, and fruits for calcium, phosphorous, vitamins, minerals, and protein. Here’s why:
· Raw bones, soft bones and cartilage are important to provide calcium and phosphorous for strong bones and teeth. Mabel and Arlo are given a bone every couple of weeks (we do not throw away the bones in between times, as they will self-serve and chew on them until a new one is provided – which is great for their overall health and teeth!)
· Offal – organ meats are a small but vital part of a BARF diet as they provide essential vitamins, minerals & protein.
· Fruits veggies contain carotenoids, flavonoids, antioxidants, and many other phytochemicals that are beneficial to immune function and health.
Raw Bones - Arlo's favourite!
Recipe we use at Puppyum for Mabel and Arlo which feeds them for seven days:
· Beef mince (82% meat, 18% fat) – 1 kg
· Offal – alternate weekly between chicken or beef livers or chicken hearts – 500g.
· Fish – tinned mackerel in oil (drained) – 425g. Do not use tomato based product as dogs can’t eat tomato.
· Brown Rice (only) – I cup of cooked
· Egg – one raw egg including shell
· Garlic – 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
· Mixed frozen vegetables (carrots, zucchini, potatoes, corn and green beans) – 1kg. We use home brand products.
Recipe Method:
Place garlic, egg (including shell), mackerel in a big pot and mix together, breaking up the mackerel and eggshell into small pieces. Add cooked brown rice and defrosted mixed vegetables and mix to combine. Cut offal into smaller pieces and mix in. Lastly, add beef mince, separate with hands or a large spoon to make it easier to mix all ingredients together.
The size of your dog and their dietary requirements will determine the per serve size. At Puppyum we put 2 cups of wet food into an individual freezer zip bag, Mabel gets ¾ cup and Arlo 1 ¼ cups per day of wet raw food. This recipe will feed Mabel and Arlo for seven days.
Kibble is given as per the package instructions or as recommended by their vet. For example, Mabel gets ½ cup and Arlo 1 cup per day of kibble. Each morning, they get a carrot and through the day some raw vegetable scraps, blueberries, raspberries or strawberry snacks or yoghurt (lactose free). Occasionally, they may even get a Schmackos or two! We just monitor their weight visually and cut back on the snacks when required.
We also supplement their daily raw food & kibble with healthy vegetable snacks (i.e. if cleaning green beans they will get the ‘top and tails’ etc. Bones are given on a fortnightly basis. Other healthy snacks as per below are provided on a regular basis (based on weight control).
Healthy at Home Snacks
At Puppyum healthy at-home snacks include raw bones, Celery Peanut Butter Sticks, Yoghurt (lactose free) and Carrot Sticks, Raw or Cooked Vegetables, berries and some fruits.
· Celery Peanut Butter Sticks – we use Mayvers Rovers Reward https://mayvers.com.au/products/natural-dog-peanut-butter-
Please do not use your peanut butter in the fridge or pantry at home as it may contain Xylitol, which is a substance that is often used as a sugar substitute. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs, even in small doses. It can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), liver failure, seizures and even death.
· Beef stock and Real Beefy Air-dried Schmackos Ice blocks – when it’s a hot day Mabel and Arlo really enjoy these ice blocks. We use Massel 7's Beef Cubes Gluten Free 35g
https://massel.com/at-home/stock-cubes/massel-ultracubes-stock-cubes-beef-style-10pack/ (available at most major supermarkets). Mix one low sodium beef stock cube with water (according to packet directions) and two torn up real beefy air-dried Schmackos https://www.schmackos.com.au/products/schmackos-strapz-beef (available at most major supermarkets. Let cool then transfer to ice block moulds or any suitable container, freeze overnight.
· Yoghurt and Carrot Sticks – cut a carrot in half and smother the end with yoghurt. Make sure you give these treats outside otherwise you may have a very messy floor!
https://rawandfresh.com.au/products/yoghurt
· Raw or Cooked Vegetables – raw carrot, or any leftover vegetables in the crisper i.e. pumpkin, sweet potato, green beans, broccolini stalks to name a few.
Peanut Butter Bowl - Mabel's favourite!
Harmful and Toxic Food for Dogs
There are certain foods that can be fatal to dogs and should be avoided completely. These include:
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· Onions |
· Avocado
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· Chocolate
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· Grapes & Sultanas |
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· Coffee/tea
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· Alcohol |
· BBQ or Cured Meats
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· Cooked bones
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Final Thoughts
Whether you are considering a transition to a BARF raw food diet or the mixed feeding method before committing carefully consider the potential benefits and risks, and as always consult your veterinarian. Raw food diets can be a good choice for your furry friend, but they also come with challenges like potential bacterial contamination and the need for meticulous planning to avoid nutritional imbalances.
Ready to upgrade and help your beloved dog feel their best every meal! 🍖💖
We feed our mascots Mabel & Arlo their meals in The Puppyum™ Comfort Bowl which has been designed to aid better digestion, support well-being & comfort. It's built to last, stylish & on trend!